asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has appointed a competent person to survey and report on the damage done to farms in County Down in connection with the construction of an aerodrome which has now been abandoned; and to assess the damage and pay the farmers concerned compensation for the loss sustained through injury to their properties.

A committee comprising representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Northern Ireland and of the Air Ministry, has been formed for the purpose of advising on all aspects of this case and has started work.

Have the damages yet been assessed by a competent surveyor; and will my right hon. and gallant Friend see that these farmers get agreed compensation at the earliest possible moment?

Early payment, on general account, to all owner-occupiers is being made in appropriate cases. The committee to which I have just referred started work on 21st February. Its task is to decide what areas can be derequisitioned forthwith, what areas may be derequisitioned after restoration to agricultural use, and what land must be purchased.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the renewed air-raids on London have disclosed any new tactics or new forms of attack on the part of the enemy.

The tactical methods employed by the German Air Force in the present series of attacks on London display certain features which have been developed since the winter of 1940–41. This was to be expected, and none has come as a surprise.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether accurate statistics are being kept of the number of enemy aircraft brought down by our planes and by our ground defences, respectively; and whether such statistics show which weapon is the most effective and which requires to be strengthened.

A careful record is kept of the results achieved by the various forms of defence against enemy air attack, and while it would not be in the public interest to give details I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that full use is made of this information in planning our defence arrangements.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works whether, in a case where, after £100 has been expended on repairs on a single house in a period of 12 months, further urgent repairs become necessary during the 12 months not caused by fresh war damage, it is necessary to obtain a certificate of essentiality from the local authority and a licence from his Department before the repairs can be carried out.

A licence is required from the Ministry of Works, if the cost of the further repairs, together with the cost of the work already carried out on the house in the preceding 12 months, exceeds £100. If the cost of the further repairs does not exceed £500, a Certificate of Essentiality may be obtained from the local authority. Such a certificate, if granted, will assist in obtaining a licence and any controlled materials.

Does not my hon. Friend realise that if has been spent in 12 months, and if there are urgent matters like roof leaks or burst pipes to be attended to, there is a serious waste of time before a licence can be obtained?

It is not necessarily true. It is a question of putting in an application for a licence. That is not to say that the work will not be licensed.

Does my hon. Friend realise that it takes a good long time to get a licence?

I do not think that is true.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works if he is in a position to state the policy of His Majesty's Government with regard to the ownership and life of temporary houses to be erected at the end of the war in Europe.

I cannot add to what my Noble Friend has already stated in another place, namely, that the Government have decided that temporary houses, if approved, shall be publicly owned and licensed for a period. If and when the temporary houses are approved, the Government will have to determine the period of life for them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what restrictions cm the mortgaging of agricultural land are in existence in the Colonial Empire; and whether he can give details as to the principles involved and the methods by which they are enforced.

I have been asked to reply. No comprehensive account is at present available concerning restrictions on the mortgaging of agricultural land in the Colonial Empire. The subject is complex, and there are immense variations in the different dependencies according to the nature, of the title to land. Where freehold exists there are, generally, no restrictions on mortgage, but the general trend of policy is now against the issue of freehold titles. Land in tribal areas is normally subject to restrictions; the principle of the restriction is generally that such land should not pass out of the possession of the native communities concerned.

Is it not a well-established precedent of legislation in the Empire that there are restrictions on the mortgage of agricultural land, and not on agricultural leases?

There are restrictions in one or two cases.

Are there not definite restrictions, in certain Colonies, such as Uganda?

I do not know about Uganda, but there are in Zanzibar.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will set up in East Africa as soon as circumstances permit, regional research stations for fresh water and marine fisheries, respectively; and whether Nyasaland, Northern Rhodesia and the Seychelles will be brought into any such schemes.

The establishment of regional fishery research stations in suitable parts of the Colonial Empire, including East Africa, as soon as circumstances permit is under consideration. The location of these stations and the Territories which each of them should serve will be considered in consultation with the Government concerned.

Will the Minister nor ask the Department to speed up this matter, because the delay is a little alarming?

All those considerations are held up to some extent by war conditions, but my right hon. Friend is doing everything he can in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether be will appoint a committee to inquire into the desirability of having one common currency for Great Britain and her Colonies.

The existing arrangements provide fully for the prompt and easy inter-controvertibility of United Kingdom and Colonial currencies. There would be very serious practical difficulties in the introduction of a common unit of currency. In these circumstances no useful purpose would be served by the appointment of such a committee.

Have the countries and the Colonies concerned been asked their views on this matter?

No, Sir. I do not think the Colonies have been asked. There has been no demand in any of the Colonies, either from the public or from the Governments.

Has not the time come to have one cosmic currency, a currency for the world?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, as an economy effort, he will establish a malaria research and survey institute for the Central African Colonies, on the lines of the one in India, to be financed by the Colonial Research Fund, or one each for West and East Africa, respectively.

Research on malaria is being actively carried out at present as far as circumstances permit. Much work on malaria control has been done and is being done both in East and in West Africa. The general organisation of medical research in the Colonial Empire which will include the most suitable means for investigating the problems of malaria and its control is at present under consideration by the Colonial Research Committee. I cannot at the moment make any further statement on the matter.

Does not my hon. Friend think this matter so pressing that it ought to be dealt with more speedily?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act of 1940, £16,000,000 was provided for this work down to 31st March, 1944; that only £1,300,000 had been actually spent up to 23rd February; and will he give consideration to the possibility of utilising some of the unspent balance on acquiring land in the West Indies, British Honduras, the Seychelles and Kenya, in order to satisfy the land hunger of the people in those Colonies.

Provision for expenditure under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act is made in annual estimates, and balances unspent in any one year are not available for subsequent expenditure. My right hon. and gallant Friend is well aware that expenditure so far has been much less than the limits Laid down in the Act, and is doing what is possible in the face of war-time obstacles such as shortage of man-power and of materials, to increase the rate of progress with schemes, including schemes of the character referred to by the hon. Member, of which several have already been approved and others are in contemplation.

Does not the hon. Gentleman think it very extraordinary that of the £16,000,000 voted under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act, 1940, for the work up to March of this year, only £1,300,000 has been spent, and nearly £14,000,000 is unspent? Could not something be done to conserve that money for the purpose for which it was intended?

No, Sir. We are doing everything possible in the conditions existing at the present time, but wartime conditions make it impossible to spend that money.

When my hon. Friend said that the balances which are unspent are no longer carried forward to another year, does he mean that when it is impossible to carry out a plan owing to the shortage of labour, that plan lapses?

I should like notice of that question. I do not think that is the case. I imagine that the plan would come up again in the following year.

Will the hon. Gentleman realise that this matter has caused grave concern?

I did point out that war-time conditions alone are the difficulty.

Do war-time conditions prevent the purchase of land for land settlement schemes, even if the schemes have to be left over until later?

If the hon. Member will read my reply, he will see that this is being done in a number of cases.

Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Motion for Adjournment.

The whole thing is an organised hyprocrisy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give favourable consideration in the near future to the co-operative marketing of colonial produce on the lines indicated in the Report of the West African Cocoa Commission, 1938.

The subject of co-operative marketing is constantly receiving attention both here and by Colonial Governments, but the lines which such developments will follow will naturally vary according to local circumstances. In West Africa the Co-operative Societies have been assisted during the period of war-time control, and in considering long-term plans for the West African cocoa industry, the recommendations of the West African Cocoa Commission will certainly be borne fully in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the adoption of the uniform rate of bonus for all employees whose salaries do not exceed £850 by the National Agreement of 25th November, he will apply the straight bonus system to Malta and disregard the findings of the MacLeod Report which was issued on 30th October.

The Governor of Malta has reported that at a Conference on the 9th February the proposal for a uniform rate of bonus was put forward by the delegates of the employees who stated that they would submit written representations on the subject. Pending consideration of these representations my right hon. and gallant Friend does not feel able to come to a conclusion in the matter.

May I ask my hon. Friend whether these representations could be speeded up in order that His Majesty's Government may reply?

The representations have not yet been received by His Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction on all sides at the failure of the MacLeod Report to recommend the establishment of some form of negotiating machinery even if the setting up on the identical British system of Whitley industrial councils or committees at once is not a practical proposition; and whether he will now renounce this lack of industrial leadership for Malta as being mistaken policy.

There is negotiating machinery already in Malta in relation to some classes of the employees of the Government of Malta and the Service Departments with which alone the Macleod Report is concerned. My right hon. and gallant Friend is aware that dissatisfaction has been expressed by the employees with the view taken by Mr. Macleod in his report that the time has not yet come to extend such machinery in Malta to other classes. This subject is still under consideration by the various authorities concerned and it is not yet possible for any conclusion to be reached.

Does my hon. Friend realise that dissatisfaction is not confined to employees; and will he take the initiative of asking for a full report on the opinion of all sections of the community in Malta?

As my hon. Friend will see, from my reply, the matter is now under consideration.

Will my hon. Friend continue to press for a full report as to everybody's opinion; and will he at once take the initiative? May I have an answer?

Does the Minister realise that one of the most prolific causes of discontent among the Government staff in Malta, is the failure of the Administration to take them into active partnership as in done in this country; and will he not insist, if necessary, on overriding some of the deadheads in Malta?

As I said in my reply, this matter is under very careful consideration by my right hon. and gallant Friend, and I will bring the views of the House to his notice.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Tansport if, in order to help our export trade and in view of the fact that there is now little civilian traffic, he will consider, although it is right for historical reasons to drive on the left of the road, arranging now that after the war we will drive on the right of the road in Great Britain.

Yes, Sir, I will consider my hon. Friend's proposal that we should alter the rule of the road, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. I must, however, remind him that whatever might be the advantages, either to the export trade or in other (ways, of a generally accepted international rule, the change from left to right would in this country be a difficult and costly process. When the opportunity for international action arises, we shall have to balance these difficulties against the advantages we should obtain.

Does not the Parliamentary Secretary think that this would be a good time to make such a change, as there is very little civilian traffic here; and whatever the international complications, does he not agree that the rest of the world would certainly not change to suit us?

There are many countries, including India and China and other potential markets, which drive on the left.

In China they drive on both sides.

If we are thinking of the advantage to the export trade, we must get a generally-accepted international rule. The difficulties are mainly the reconstruction of buses, the transposition of traffic signals, and the rearrangement of the road arteries for traffic.

Why should we do what the Germans do, and not what the Britons do?

What exactly are the advantages which would result from changing from the left to the right?

It is believed by many people that it would help the export trade in motors. I pronounce no opinion: I am going to consult the President of the Board of Trade about that. It would also have great advantages as regards road safety, which it would take me too long to explain now.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he has now considered the detailed statement of the hire and operational costs involved in the case of road vehicle 5S10/50, hired by his Department for the week ended 11th February last; and if he has any further statement to make on the total load carried during that week and the costs involved.

Yes, Sir, I have examined the record of this lorry for the week ended 11th February, as it was submitted by the operator himself. This record confirms my statement that the loads carried amounted in all, not to 16£ tons, as my hon. and gallant Friend alleged in his previous Question, but to 35£ tons. Allowing for all overheads, and for demurrage for one and a half days' delay in unloading, for which the Road Haulage Organisation was not to blame, the cost per ton was not £3, as alleged by my hon. and gallant Friend in his Question. On the basis of the figures with which he has been good enough to supply me himself, the average cost per ton would be 17s. 3d. I would, however, remind my hon. and gallant Friend that the Organisation is not primarily designed to make a profit by competing with other forms of transport, but to make the best use of transport as a whole.

Will my hon. Friend indicate the particular detail in the very closely-examined statement that I secured for his use, on which he bases his own statement that the charges work out at 17s. 5d.? Which of the details is incorrect?

There were 35½ tons carried, and not 16½ two loads of paper and cement. I have the journey sheet here, and I will gladly show it to my hon. and gallant Friend.

Half of £3 per ton would still work out at 30s. per ton, if you doubled the amount carried.

Is it not the case that prior to the war these private companies were robbing and looting this country, and that they want to get back to that sort of thing?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport how many road vehicles were sent by his Department on Friday, 18th February, empty from London, 173 miles to Northwich, Cheshire; what total unloaded ton-mileage was involved; and whether the carriage of household salt, involving neither port clearance nor emergency need, is regarded as sufficiently urgent traffic to warrant the waste of fuel on the unloaded journey outwards.

Twenty-five vehicles were sent from London to Northwich on 28th February to carry salt. The average capacity of the vehicles was between seven and eight tons. The vehicles were needed at Northwich, because the railways had been unable to handle the traffic which was offered to them, and in consequence the supplies of salt had fallen dangerously low in certain areas. The Ministry of Food assured my officers that the salt was urgently required in these areas, not only for household use, but for the production of essential foodstuffs, including the baking of bread. No outward loads were available.

Does my hon. Friend realise that this amounts to between 2,000 and 3,000 unloaded ton-miles, in which tyres and fuel were being wasted? Were there no vehicles nearer the spot which could have handled this traffic. Did he take the precaution to make inquiries of the clearing houses, to see whether they could suppy loads?

My hon. and gallant Friend's next question deals with clearing houses. I do not admit that empty running on a return journey, or on an outward journey, is wasted if the load to be carried is essential and urgent. The Ministry of Food assured us that in this case that was so.

Will my hon. Friend accept my assurance that, in at least one case, the recipient of the salt assured us that he had supplies in hand and needed no more at that time?

There are no scruples about these people.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport, what instructions he is issuing to regional and district transport officers to prevent, as far as possible, the wastage of fuel and rubber occasioned by empty running of road vehicles under Government control; and whether, should they be unable to provide loads, he will instruct them to consult clearing houses.

The detailed instructions given to the Officers of the Road Haulage Organisation vary from time to time according to the general transport situation. They have, however, always been designed to ensure that traffic which should be moved by road is so moved with the minimum use of fuel and rubber. I am glad to assure my hon. and gallant Friend that, in that purpose, the Organisation has achieved a high measure of success. I must remind him, however, that any attempt to load vehicles with traffic of some sort in all circumstances, because they are proceeding on a journey before or after dealing with essential traffic, would inevitably lead to additional unnecessary, and therefore, wasteful use of fuel and rubber. It would, in addition, tend to disorganise a systematic use of transport as a whole, and impair the flexibility which makes road transport an invaluable reserve for dealing with emergencies.

Would my hon. Friend agree that he has issued instructions to Regional and District Transport Officers that they shall try to fill up these vehicles on return journeys, whereas the majority of the Questions I have put to him have been with regard to sending empty vehicles on outward journeys? Will he amend these instructions to deal with outward journeys, where they run empty, as well as return journeys?

They always fill up on return journeys, if loads are available, and I can give the hon. and gallant Gentleman many thousands of cases where that has been done.

asked the Minister of Information why the two broadcasts on the Prestwick aerodrome were permitted; is he aware that the most intimate details were given; and that indignation has been aroused amongst the inhabitants against these broadcasts, in view of the breach of security involved.

asked the Minister of Information if his attention has been drawn to a broadcast on 21st February entitled "Scottish Airport"; and why intimate details were allowed to be given of the war-time activities at Prestwick thus creating considerable alarm in the West of Scotland.

Both these broadcasts were scrutinised by the authorities responsible for security in these matters, and they contained only such information about the aerodrome as was known before the war or had already appeared in the British, Canadian and United States Press.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the exact location of this aerodrome was given, as well as the number of miles from the Continent, an estimate of the number of machines arriving each day, and all the information necessary for an enemy who wanted to bomb the aerodrome? How can he say that, as he now says, that that was information that was given before the war?

As I have already told the hon. Member, these broadcasts were scrutinised by the security officer. Let me point out to him that the Germans possess snaps of Scotland, and that it is quite easy to calculate the time it takes to come from some point in Germany or France to Prestwick, without these broadcasts.

In view of the fact that Prestwick is one of the brightest jewels in my constituency, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the people of Prestwick are perfectly prepared to bear the same burden in war as London and elsewhere?

I will bear in mind the hon. and gallant Member's tribute to his constituency. That sort of Moore's Elegy will certainly be read with interest.

Is it the intention to cease prosecuting persons in the West of Scotland for careless talk, or, as an alternative, is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to proceed against the security officers who sanctioned these broadcasts?

First of all, I would have nothing to do with the prosecution of those most eminent people called the Scots. Secondly, the security officer who read these two broadcasts is a highly experienced man, and he knows perfectly well, for instance, that, in General Marshall's report on American Army activities in Britain, there is a long passage dealing with Prestwick, which has also been published throughout the United States.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible date.

asked the Minister of Information if the Atlantic Charter has been the subject of any broadcasts within this country during the last 12 months and, if so, upon how many occasions; whether any public meetings have been arranged by his Department dealing with the principles of the Charter within the same period; and, if so, how many and in which regions.

There have been no specific broadcasts about the Atlantic Charter in the past year, but references to it have been frequent both in home and overseas transmissions. Likewise, while only a few meetings under M.O.I. auspices have taken the Atlantic Charter as their subject, its principles are naturally used as a text whenever a speaker has occasion to discuss the war aims of the United Nations. The supply of factual information about the war continues to be the purpose of the great majority of meetings held on M.O.I. platforms.

In view of the historical importance of this Charter, and its increasing importance as the war goes on, can the Minister arrange to have some broadcasts, particularly to give the Government point of view, and their proposals, if any, in this matter?

The Ministry of Information exists to serve the public, and if we have any large demand to hold meetings on the subject of the Atlantic Charter, we shall certainly fulfil them.

If the Minister is to arrange any meetings for explaining the principles of the Atlantic Charter, will he inform the speakers that the Prime Minister has told us already that the Charter does not apply to India, Burma or Germany?

I should imagine that the purpose of the meeting would be, not to give instruction in geography, but to explain the principles of the Charter.

Having regard to the fact that this raises controversial issues, is it not entirely improper that Government money should be spent on explaining a Charter, the meaning of which nobody actually knows, and, where you do understand it, it is rotten?

That question once again poses the dilemma which often faces the Ministry of Information. One hon. Member desires a discussion on a certain subject, and another hon. Member does not.

I have no desire that the Minister should take part in any political discussion.

Not even on Saturday night at a quarter-to-eight?

asked the Minister of Information whether he has taken, or is taking, special action to ensure that the Prime Minister's recent announcement that British and American troops will take part on a fifty-fifty basis in the European offensive will be given as much publicity as possible in the U.S.A. and elsewhere in view of the publicity given to statements that American troops would predominate.

This speech, like all other speeches made by my right hon. Friend since he became Prime Minister, has been fully reported in the American Press. Likewise, broadcasters in the United States have continued to give full reports of the Prime Minister's speeches.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the village of Stillington, near Easingwold, which had two fried fish shops before the war, has had no such facilities in recent years; and whether he will now review his decision refusing to a grant a fish-frying licence to Mr. George Manson.

The two fried fish shops to which my hon. Friend refers were closed over four years ago. I regret that the shortage of fish under war conditions precludes the grant of new licences in circumstances such as these.

In making his decision, has my right hon. and gallant Friend consulted the local food officers and the local authorities?

This matter has been before the Department on two or three occasions previously and I am only confirming the decision made by my predecessor.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend answer my question? Has he consulted the local authorities and the local food officers?

Yes, Sir.

What is the fish-fryer supposed to do with the surplus fat, when he has not got any fish?

asked the Minister of Food whether a register is kept of fishmongers, confectioners and other purveyors of foodstuffs, who have closed down owing to war conditions, with a view to giving preference to them when licences to open are granted after the war.

The information necessary for the purpose my hon. Friend has in mind is already available in local food offices.

asked the Minister of Food the number of British Restaurants now established in the administrative county of Durham and the county boroughs of Sunderland and South Shields, respectively; and the number of meals served during 1942 and 1943.

At the end of January, 1944, 83 approved British Restaurants were operating in the administrative county of Durham, six in the county borough of Sunderland and eight in the county borough of South Shields. As the answer to the second part of the Question is somewhat detailed, with the permission of my hon. Friend, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has considered the complaint of the Master Bakers' Association that bakers have to be satisfied with an inferior quality of barley for bread as all the first-quality barley is being purchased by the brewers for making beer; and what steps he intends to take to safeguard the quality of bread.

No, Sir, I am not aware of any such complaint. In regard to the second part of the Question, the quality of bread sold in all parts of Great Britain is constantly tested and cases of poor quality are immediately investigated.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware of the statement made in the Press, that the best barley was purchased by the brewers at the maximum price and the remainder was bought by the Minister of Food at the minimum price; and, in view of this, does he not consider that the best barley should be purchased for the bread of the people, and will he see that this is done in future?

No, Sir, at the moment we are taking barley out of bread altogether. In Northern Ireland, for instance, there has been no barley in bread since the end of January.

asked the Minister of Food if he can give any information about the amount of cheese the Canadian Government intend sending to this country during the next two years; and if those entitled to buy cheese will be allowed to buy more.

No, Sir, I am afraid that I cannot say what will be the amount of cheese that we shall purchase from Canada over the next two years. It will depend on the effect on production of weather and other conditions. That which we get will be distributed on the ration, and I cannot say at this time what the amount of that ration will be.

Would my right hon. and gallant Friend consider the possibility of distributing any additional cheese which may be available to agricultural workers, miners and quarrymen in places where canteens are not available, in preference to the ordinary consumer?

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of bitter oranges allotted to Scotland has been found to be surplus owing to lack of sugar in households to make marmalade; and whether he has decided upon any policy to prevent wastage.

I do not anticipate that the supply of bitter oranges allotted for household consumption in Scotland will prove to be greater than the demand, and no wastage is expected.

Has the right hon. and gallant Gentleman been informed that the demand by the retailers has dried up; and will he remove the ban placed upon wholesalers, who receive requests for large quantities of oranges to be sent outside the area, and will he release them and allow these wholesalers to dispose of their surplus?

At the moment only 2 per cent. of the bitter oranges imported into Scotland are left in the hands of the wholesalers.

Is the Minister aware that in some cases these oranges can hardly be distributed even free, because the poorer people particularly—and I believe it applies to all—have no sugar available in order to make use of them, and nobody can eat them in the ordinary way? Will he take steps either to make sugar available or to stop distributing them at all?

If it is found that they are left on hand, we can enlarge the area of distribution, but I am afraid I should not be justified in giving to a particular area an addition to the sugar ration.

Will the Minister send them to Yorkshire?

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the difficulty experienced by workers who are away from home during the day in getting their supplies of oranges, fish, cakes, etc.; and whether he can make any proposal for ensuring that such workers are enabled to get their proper supplies.

Yes, Sir. I am aware of the difficulties to which the hon. Member refers. A great deal has been done by my Department and by food retailers to alleviate these difficulties. I am seeing whether anything further can be done.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that agricultural labourers have great difficulty in getting oranges owing to the low supplies that are being sent to village shops; and will he see to it that village shops get a ration of oranges?

Quite a number do. If my hon. Friend has any case in mind where that could be done, and will let me know, I will certainly try to see if it can be done.

Does the Minister think that he will be able to make a statement to the House as to the result of his consideration of this matter before long?

It is a very difficult problem. I will look into it very fully and I will let my hon. Friend know when the moment is opportune for him to put a further question.